Joint



Feb. 9, 1932. A. B. RYPlNsKl 1,844,409

` JOINT Filed Oct. 27, 1928 f5 Sheets-Sheet l l lll, /l/

IN VEN TOR.

Feb. 9, '1932. v A, 5 RYPlNsKl '1,844,409

JOINT Filed Oct. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

. l BY l M%ZM TToRNEY Feb. 9, 1932. A. B. Rvpmsm 1,844,409

JOINT Filed Oct. 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 TTORNEY Patented Feb. 9,1932 i UNITED STATES 4ParrlzN'r OFFICE ALBERT B. RYPINSKI, OF LAURELTON,LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO METROPOLITANDEVICE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION F NEW YORK JOINT Application ledOctober 27, 1928. Serial No. 315,469.

Where an electric cable enters an opening in a surrounding wall as forexample 1n c onnection blocks in subway systems, it is 1m- `portant tomake a joint between the cable and AI the wall which is waterprooi` andinsulating, and which will maintain these characteristlcs over a periodof use. Such joints have been made by pack-ing oakum or cork around theend of the sheathed cable or by dr1v1ng lead iloss into the'socketaround it as for example in Murray Patent' No. 1,028,257 of June 4,

1912. Similar joints are deslrable 1n many cases in which other objectsthan electrical cables enter a socket in a surrounding wall.

The present invention provides improvements in such joints, and isespecially 1mportant in connection with electrical conductors of thelead sheathed type.

. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section vof a joint embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the parts before the joint is made;

Figs. 3 to 8 are views simllar to Fig. 1 illustrating modilications. u

A connection block 1 of porcelain or other refractory insulatingmaterial carries a bus 2 extending transversely and bearlngagamst aninsulating plate 3. A similar insulating plate 4 overlies the bus andupon th1s 1s a connecting lug 5 of a branch cable fastened and connectedto the bus b screws 6. The branch cable enters throu a lateral opening 7at the outer end of w ichis an enlarged socket 8. A The wires 9 aresurrounded at thelr ends by a metal sleeve 10 which terminates in thelug 5. Back of the sleeve 10 the cable is enclosed in the usual leadsheath 11. The purpose of the invention is to pack the end of the cableWhere it enters an opening in such connecting blocks or. similarsupports, and to make the connection waterproof as well asinsulatbushing 12 of soft rubber is fitted easily over the end of thesheathed portion of the cable and fits easily into the enlargement orsocket 8 in the block, as in Fig. 2. An annular recess 13 is provided inthe bushing, pref- 50 erably tapered slightly and extending nearlywatertight joint is thus obtained around the sheath of the cable andaround the face of the socket 8, the upper portion of the bushingl 12c-utting off any possible passage of Water'from the metal sleeve intothe block. The threads will bite easily into the rubber and draw themetal sleeve into the position of Fig. 1.

According to Fig. 3, a soft rubber bushing i 19 is used having itscentral opening somewhat larger than the lead sheath 11. The metalsleeve 20 lits around the lead sheath and has a tapered outer faceengaging the inside of the rubber sleeve and threaded so as to bescrewed into the latter and to expand it against the face of the socket8.

In this case a separate tight connection must be made about the sheathedcable. For that purpose the metal sleeve has a tapered extension 21 onits lower end, and a wiped joint 22 is made between this extension andthe cable.

The construction of Fig. 4 is similar except that the extension 23 'ofthe outer end of the metal sleeve is threaded to receive a gland 24which compresses packing material 25 against the lead sheath 11 and theend of the metal sleeve, to close the space between the two.

Fig. 5 illustrates an arrangement where the lead sheath is too large toenter the socket 8. The sheath 11 is cut away, leaving the usualinternal rubber and fabric insulation 26 within the socket. The metalsleeve is shaped with a shoulder 27 forming an enlarged threaded socket28 at the end fitting the sheath 11. The inner end of the metal sleevescrews into and expands the soft 100 the sleeve and the socket y8.A'gland 24 and .packing 25 serve to pack the' space between the sleeveand the sheath.

According' to Fig. 6 the lead armor 11 of the cable is threaded.. Thebushing 12 has an annular groove ,dividing the outer portion of it intotwo' rings 14 and 15. The metal sleeve 16 has a ring-shaped portion 28tapered on either or both faces entering the groove in the bushing, andhas a threaded outer end fitting on the sheath 11. By turning up themetal bushing, therefore, the threads force the wedge-shaped rin 28 intothe slot in the rubber bushing an the latter.

According to Fig. 7 the rubber bushing 1 2 is again provided with anannular recess d1- viding its outer end inte two 'spaced rings 14 and15. The metal bushingllG, however, has an expanding ring 29 wit anenlargement 30 on its forward end so as to resist withdrawal. This metalbushingA may be simply pushed into place and willbe held thereby thelocking engagement of its enlarged edge 30 with the rubber.

In Fig. 8 the wall 31 -through which the cable is to pass hasits-Lrecessed portion tapered and also threaded; and the rubber bushing32 is screwed -into the recess, the tapered thread serving to force therubber bushing inward and at the same time to compress it against thecable. The outer end of the bushing is preferably stiifened by areinforcing metal ring 33 havin an internal liange embedded in the ruber. Various other methods-may be used for reinfrl'lcing.

the head and other parts of the bu This reinforcement leaves the bushingfree to flex but hardens or stiifens it where a wrench or similar toolis to be applied. The reinforcing metal may be internal to the rubber orexternal, asshown. Or a similar result can be secured by vulcanizingtheouter end.

rIhe joint may be applied to a great variety of structures in which thecable has to pass throughan opening in an insulating structure. Forexample, instead of the connection block of Fig. 1,-two joints of thestyles described may be made at opposite ends of a -metal sleeveenclosing a straight junction between the ends rof two cables suchV ascommonly occurs in'manholes in the street on underground distributionsystems. Or, such joints may be applied where the cable enters the metalcasin of junction boxes, transformers, pothea or 'other appliances used`in electrical installations.y The rubber bushing itself insulates thecable from such metal casings. A j

There is little 'skill required in assembling the rubber-hushed job.With the unit mounted on a wall, .as it usually is, and the cable inplace, it is not esy to pack oakum or floss expand `tapered metal sleevet The resilient nature of the rubber makes it an improvement over leadand similar pack# ings. It lexes and yields to expansion and contractionof the parts without destroying the seal, and returns to its originalshape when permitted. In fact it can be easily removed and replaced,whereas it is very diiicult to remove packed lead floss and oakum.

The adjacent wall or part being threaded, the rubber may be reformedwith l corresponding threads, or 1t. may be plain so that the threads onthe rubber are formed by screwing it into the threaded metal or porce-`lain. The threads serve to retain the parts in adjusted osition, orother retaining means may be use as described.

Instead of using rubber, we may use bushings made of various rubbercompositions or various other resilient materials. And the joint may beused with advantage not only for electrical conductors but wherever sucha joint is required between a surrounding wall and an object such forexample as a pipe, bar or other shaped object, which enters an openingin the wall.

- Various modifications may be made by those skilled infthe art withoutdeparting from the invention as defined in the followy socket having anannular groove and a metal sl'eevehaving a tapered portion threaded insaid groove and compressing the bushi in thespace between the sleeve andthe wa of the socket andin the spa/ce between the sleeve and theconductor.

2. Ajoint for a metal sheathed conductor comprising a support ofinsulating material -having a socket in which the conductor is located,a rubber bushin in said socket and a xreaded and screwed into saidbushing so as to compress the same laterally. t

3. A Ajoint for a conductor comprising a support of insulating materialhavine a socket in'which the conductor is loca resilient rubber 4bushingwithin the socket having an annular groove, and a metal sleeve havingmeans in said annular groove to compress said bushing laterally and tosecure said sleeve in said groove.

4. A joint for a metal sheathed conductor comprising a support ofinsulating material having a socket in which the conductor is located, arubber bushing in said socket and a sleeve entering and being securedinsaid bushing and compressing said bushing laterall di A joint for ametalsheathed conductor comprising a support of insulatingmaterialhaving a socket in which the conductor is located, a metalsleeve surrounding the conductor and lying partly Within the socket, theportion of the metal sleeve Within the Socket being tapered andcompressing the bushing against the Wall of the socket and being securedin said bushing.

6. A joint for a conductor comprising a socket and a mass of insulatingmaterial therein and about said conductor and means engaging andinterlocking with saidinsulating material and wedging and compressingsaid insulating material laterally against the side Wall of said socketand of said conductor.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. v ALBERT B.RYPINSKI.

